Category: Lessons from Leo

There comes a point when trying harder simply isn’t enough.

That’s exactly where we found ourselves with Leo.

When he first came to us, we threw ourselves into helping him.

We watched videos.

We read books.

We listened to podcasts.

We spoke to other dog owners.

We tried different techniques.

Some things helped.

Some made no difference.

Some accidentally made things worse.

Like many people, my instinct was to solve the problem myself.

After all, that’s what capable people do… isn’t it?

Eventually, I realised something important.

It was a bit like learning to listen to your body – the signs had been there for a while, but I was so focused on trying to fix the problem that I wasn’t really noticing them.

I wasn’t struggling because I wasn’t trying hard enough.

I was struggling because I didn’t yet have the knowledge or experience to understand why Leo behaved the way he did.

That’s when we contacted a veterinary behaviourist.

Not because we’d failed.

Because we wanted to give Leo the very best chance possible.

Sometimes Experience Matters More Than Effort

Working with a behaviourist wasn’t a magic fix.

There wasn’t one session where everything suddenly changed.

Instead, we learnt.

We began to understand his triggers.

We recognised what wasn’t helping.

We adjusted our routines.

Perhaps most importantly, we learnt to slow down and observe before reacting.

That lesson has stayed with me far beyond dog training. Sometimes the answer isn’t to do more; it’s to understand more first. That’s something I explore further in my blog about Leo – Take Time to Assess a Situation.

Only then did Leo begin to change too.

The Same Thing Happens in Business

I see exactly the same thing in business.

There are countless things we can do ourselves.

Build a website.

Manage the bookkeeping.

Design graphics.

Write social media posts.

Create systems.

Learn marketing.

Some people genuinely enjoy all of those things.

Many don’t.

The challenge is that we often spend weeks, months or even years trying to solve a problem that someone with the right experience could help us understand in a fraction of the time.

Seeking help in business isn’t about finding someone to do everything for you.

It’s about recognising when someone else’s knowledge can help you move forwards more quickly, avoid costly mistakes or simply give you a different perspective.

Asking for Help Isn’t a Weakness

One of the biggest misconceptions in business is that asking for help somehow means you’re less capable.

I think the opposite is true.

Confident business owners know what they’re good at.

They also know what they’re not.

That’s why they surround themselves with people who can fill the gaps.

Sometimes that support is practical.

Sometimes it’s accountability.

Sometimes it’s someone asking the difficult questions you’ve been avoiding.

Sometimes it’s simply having someone to push you when you’ve convinced yourself you can’t take the next step.

Nobody succeeds entirely on their own.

Different Situations Need Different Skills

Another lesson Leo taught me is that experience doesn’t always transfer as easily as we think.

Someone can be an excellent dog owner and still need help with a rescue dog who has experienced trauma.

It’s no different to business.

Just because you’ve successfully managed one challenge doesn’t automatically mean you’ll know how to tackle the next.

It’s a little like asking whether swimming in a pool, in a lake or in the sea is really the same thing.

The basic skill may be identical.

The environment changes everything.

The conditions are different.

The risks are different.

And what worked perfectly before may no longer be enough.

Recognising that isn’t failure.

It’s wisdom.

Staying True to Yourself

Ironically, seeking help in business doesn’t make your business any less authentic.

In fact, it often makes it more authentic.

When you stop trying to become an expert in everything, you have more time and energy to focus on the things that genuinely make your business yours.

That’s how your customers know your business truly came from you.

Not because you’ve done absolutely everything yourself, but because the parts that matter most still reflect who you are, your values and the experience you want your customers to have.

The Lesson Leo Taught Me

Leo still isn’t the dog we imagined we’d have.

He’s something much better.

He’s taught us patience.

He’s taught us perspective.

And perhaps most importantly, he’s taught us that asking for expert help isn’t admitting defeat.

It’s giving yourself—and those who depend on you—the very best opportunity to succeed.

The same is true in business.

Sometimes the bravest thing you can do isn’t trying harder.

It’s recognising you don’t have to do it alone.

Ready to make your business work your way?

If this article has sparked an idea, highlighted a challenge, or simply made you stop and think, let’s have a chat. I offer a free, no-obligation discovery call where we can explore what’s working well, what’s getting in your way, and whether I can help you save time and create systems that fit the way you work.

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